Lexus teams up with designboom, a popular digital architecture and design magazine, to run its second annual competition The Lexus Design Award. Professionals, students and design enthusiasts from all across the globe are invited to take the challenge, which this year revolves around the theme of сuriosity. The two winners of the competition will be invited to develop their concepts, working side-by-side with a mentor designer.

Montblanc, the brand of sophisticated accessories, has unveiled a film about the creation of 2013 year’s limited-edition “Patron of Arts” fountain pen. Every year since 1992, the brand releases limited-edition luxury pens to triumph the philanthropists of the past who supported art. This year’s piece is devoted to Ludovico Sforza, the Renaissance ruler and patron, who supported painters, artists, architects and men of letters, including Leonardo Da Vinci and architect Donato Bramante.

Why to buy something if you need it for a limited time only? It’s much easier (and more rational) to share underused assets instead of purchasing and owning them individually. The past few years have witnessed the rise of what’s called the sharing (share or shared, collaborative, peer, access) economy which implies collaborative consumption of physical, virtual and intellectual goods. The new model of consumer relationship emerges at the intersection of online social networking, mobile technology and the social movement that comes as a response to the reduction in purchasing power. While the concept of the sharing economy seems to be clear, it needs some detailing. Why is the sharing economy good to people? What threats to traditional business can it pose? Does the collaborative consumption have a potential to become a consumer religion of tomorrow? 

The global media agency Mindshare has recently released a report with a somewhat provocative headline “Digital Culture and the Digital Normal Index,” which defines the level of the so-called digital “normalness” or “abnormalness” by country. Put simply, it gives a deep insight into what drives us to chat online, listen to music, watch movies, blog or play games on the Internet. 

Coca-Cola UK has released an emotional spot, “Grandpa,” as part of its long-term commitment to promote healthier lifestyle. The 1-minute TV ad by Argentine-based David The Agency compares daily routines of a young man in his early 30s with those of his grandfather when he was the same age back in 1950-s. The video implicates that six decades ago life was much healthier due to more physical activities and better food choices.

The idea of the special beer range for the over 60-year-old consumers dubbed Fahrenheit +60 by the Finnish contestant Tony Dianoff was recognised the best. The two other projects—Easy Star Bottle and Rood Ster Vintage —by Nathan Gabriele from the USA and Charles McGregor from Australia, respectively, secured the second and third places and a grant of $10,000 each.